Fastening device



A. w. SCHMID 2,102,096

FASTENING DEVICE Dec. 14, 1937.

Filed Oct. 27, 1936 ALFRED WSCHM/JZ 5 5 A 7'7'QENE):

Patented Dec. 14, 1937 ,STATES greases rA' rEn orrica FASTENING DEVICE Alfred W. Schmid, Springfield, Ohio Application October 27, 1936, Serial No. 107,854

7 10 Claims. (o1. 238.417)

This invention relates to a fastening device and is designed primarily for securing a railroad rail to a tie, in lieu of the usual spikes, but is not limited to such use.

6. One object of the invention is to provide a fastening device which will have a long life and will be operative throughout that life to firmly secure the rail to the tie.

A further object of the invention is to provide 10 such a fastening device which can be quickly and easily applied to the rail or removed therefrom and which, after having been once removed, can again be applied to the rail, or to a new rail.

7 A further object of the invention is to provide 15 such a fastening device which will be simple in construction, of a strong durable character and which may be produced at a relatively low cost.

Other objects of the invention may appear as the device is described in detail.

20 In the accompanying drawing Fig. i is a longitudinal sectional view of a fastening device embodying my invention, showing the same applied to a rail; Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the fastening device; Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken 25 on the line 3-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line ie-40f Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the housing members; Fig. 6 is a detail view of the other housing member; Fig. '7 is an end view of the fulcrum member;

30 and Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the fastening device in a bottom plan view.

In this drawing I have illustrated the invention as applied to a railroad rail but it will be under- 35 stood that the device, either with or without modification, may be used for various purposes, such as fastening a machine to the floor.

In this particular construction the tie l which supports the rail i! is provided with a vertical 40 opening orbore 52, which is preferably cylindrical in shape, and has at the lowerend of this opening a shoulder it which preferably completely surrounds the opening. The opening may, if desired, extend entirely through the tie and the 45 shoulder would then be formed by that part of the lower surface of the tie which surrounded the opening. I prefer, however, to extend the opening 12 only part way through the tie and to provide the tie with a chamber It in line with the 50 opening and of a diameter greater than the diameter of the opening and thus form the shoulder Within the body of the tie. When a wooden tie is used the opening may be formed either before or after the tie is laid in the track. When the 5 opening is formed after the tie is laid the, chamber M may be provided by the use of an expanding cutter but when theopening is formed before the tie is laid it will usually be preferable to extend the opening through the tie and then counterbore the same from the bottom to provide the chamber 5 l4. If the tie is formed of concrete the opening in the chamber will be'molded into the same.

Mounted in the opening I2 is a tubular housing, preferably of metal, having at its lower end outwardly extending parts to engage beneath the downwardly facingshoulder E3. The housing is of such a character that the outwardly extending parts may be moved inwardly to enable the housing to be inserted in the opening and, in the con struction here shown, the housing comprises two 15 members, l5 and I6, segmental in cross section and of such a width thatwhen inserted in the opening and engaging the respective sides thereof the adjacentedgesof the two members will be spaced one from the other to form between the same slots ll. Each of these members has at its 1 lower end'an outwardly extending part or flange I8 to engage the shoulder l3 and these flanges are provided with spurs l9 to hold the housing against rotation in the opening. The two members of the 35 housing maybe separately inserted in the opening and then moved laterally into contact with the wal1 of the opening with the flanges l8 and spurs J3 beneath the shoulder it. Any suitable means may beprovided for retaining the housing members in this position while the fastening device as a whole is being assembled and, as here shown, each housing member is provided at its upper end with a laterally extending lip 20 which, when the housing member is moved to its initial position, will overhang the upper surface of the tie and support the housing member against downward movement. When the housing is moved to its final position, as will hereinafter appear, the lips 29 will be moved out of engagement with the tie but thisis immaterial as they have no function after'the fastening device has been assembled; I r

A bolt 2| extends through the housing and preferably fits snugly within the same with its upper end projecting some distance above the tie. At its lower end the bolt is provided with a flattened portion 22 forming a head ofa transverse length somewhat greater than the inner diameter of the housing. The end portions of this head are of such thickness that they may be moved through the slots H in the housing and when the head is positioned below the housing the bolt may be rotated through a quarter rotation to bring the ends of the head into positions beneath the respective housing members, which serve to limit the upward movement of the bolt. The housing members are provided with downwardly extending lugs 23 to engage the side of the head 22 and hold the same against rotation when it is in its final position, it being understood that when the bolt is inserted the head will be moved beyond the lugs 23 and, after it has been rotated to operative position, will be moved upwardly into engagement with the housing members.

Supported on the upper surface of the tie, at that side of the bolt opposite the rail 1 l, is a fulcrum member 24 having in its upper surface a curved bearing recess 25 and having at its inner end downwardly extending parts 26 which enter the upper end of the opening l2 and hold the fulcrum member against displacement. In the present construction the inner end 'of the fulcrum member is slotted, as shown at 21, and is provided with two downwardly extending parts spaced one from the other and the upper end of the adjacent housing member is of narrow width, as shown at 28, so that it may extend between the lugs 26 of the fulcrum memberto enable the lip 26 to engage the upper surface of the tie.

A clamping member 29 is loosely mounted about the bolt 2| above the housing and the opening in the clamping member, through which the bolt extends, is of a diameter somewhat greater than the diameter of the bolt to permit the clamping member to have a slight tilting movement with relation to the bolt. The outer end portions of the clamping member, that is, that end thereof remote from the rail l I, is provided with a curved end portion 30 having pivotal engagement with the bearing recess 25 of the fulcrum member, which thus forms a pivotal support for the clamping member. The other end of the clamping member, 3|, is arranged to overhang the base flange of the rail II and will have direct contact therewith. A nut 32 screw threaded on the upper end of the bolt serves to move the clamping member into engagement with the flange of the rail and to thus clamp the rail tightly to the tie. Suitable means, such as a locking washer 33, is provided to prevent the loosening of the bolt due to vibration or like causes.

After the opening has been formed in the tie the fastening device may be very quickly and easily applied by inserting the housing members in the opening, supporting the same in their proper positions by the lips 20 and then inserting the bolt and rotating the same into locking relation to the lower end of the housing. The fulcrum member 24 and clamping member 29 are then placed in position and the nut applied to the bolt and tightened down. This serves first to move the housing upwardly'a short distance and press the spurs I9 into the body of the tie so as to firmly hold the housing against rotation. The first upward movement of the bolt will bring its head into overlapping relation to the lugs 23 on the housing member and it is thus held against rotation. The further tightening of the nut will force the end 3| of the clamping member tightly against the rail flange. The nut is held against turning on the bolt so that there is little likelihood of the device being loosened by the vibration of the rail or other causes but should there be any loosening of the clamping memberit can be quickly and easily tightened by the application of a wrench to the nut. When it is desired to remove the rail the nut 32 is moved upwardly on the bolt far enough to permit the head 22 of the bolt to move out of engagement with the lugs 23 and the bolt is then rotated to bring the head into line with the slots I! and the bolt is withdrawn from the housing, carrying with it the clamping member. After the clamping member and bolt have once been removed they can be reinserted and again used to clamp the rail, or a new rail, in position, as the parts of the fastening device are not subjected to any substantial wear or distortion and are not likely to be broken. Should the thread on the bolt be stripped it is only necessary to provide a new bolt. Consequently a single fastening device will serve to fasten the rail, or a succession of rails, to the tie throughout the life of the latter.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a fastening device of the character described, a tubular housing adapted to be inserted in an opening in a supporting structure and having means to hold the same against upward movement with relation to said structure, a bolt removably mounted in said housing and having means to hold the same normally against upward movement with relation to said housing, a removable fulcrum member having a part to enter the outer end of said opening and retain the same in a predetermined position on said supporting structure, a clamping member mounted about said bolt and having a part pivotally supported on said fulcrum member and having another part to engage the device which is to be fastened to said supporting structure, and a nut on said bolt to move said clamping member into engagement with said device.

2. In a fastening device of the character described, a tubular housing adapted to be inserted in an opening in a supporting structure and comprising relatively movable members each having a part to engage a downwardly facing shoulder at the lower end of said opening, a bolt removably mounted in said housing and held normally against upward movement with relation thereto, a fulcrum member removably mounted on said supporting structure near the upper end of said housing and having a downwardly extending part to enter said opening, the adjacent member of said housing having its upper end shaped to permit said downwardly extending part to enter said opening, a clamping member mounted about said bolt and having a part pivotally supported on said fulcrum member and having another part to engage the device which is to be fastened to said supporting structure, and a nut on said bolt to move said clamping member into engagement with said device.

3. In a rail fastening device, the combination with a tie having a vertical opening and a downwardly facing shoulder at the lower end of said opening, a tubular housing mounted in said opening and comprising two members segmental in cross section and spaced apart to form slots between the adjacent edges thereof, each member having a part to engage said shoulder, a bolt removably mounted in said housing and having at its lower end laterally extending parts adapted to be moved through said slots and rotated into line with said members, a fulcrum member mounted on said tie and having a bearing recess, a clamping member mounted loosely about said bolt, having one end pivotally supported in'said'bearing recess and having its other end arranged to overhang the base flange of the rail supported on said tie, and a nut on said bolt to move said clamping member into engagement with said flange.

4. In a rail fastening device, the combination with a tie having a vertical opening and a downwardly facing shoulder at the lower end of said opening, a tubular housing mounted in said opening and comprising two members segmental in cross section and spaced apart to form slots between the adjacent edges thereof, each member having a part to engage said shoulder and having at its upper end a part to support the same in its initial position in said opening, a bolt removably mounted in said housing and having at its lower end laterally extending parts adapted to be moved through said slots and rotated into line with said members, a fulcrum member mounted on said tie and having a bearing recess, that member of said housing which is adjacent to said fulcrum member having a narrow upper portion and said fulcrum member having parts extending into said opening on opposite sides of said narrow portion of said housing member, a clamping member mounted loosely about said bolt, having one end pivotally supported in said bearing recess and having its other end arranged to overhang the base flange of a rail supported on said tie, and a nut on said bolt to move said clamping member into clamping engagement with said flange.

5. In a fastening device of the character described, a tubular housing comprising tworelatively movable members adapted to be inserted in an opening in a supporting structure through the upper end of said opening and having parts to engage a downwardly facing shoulder'at the lower end of said opening, said members being laterally movable in said opening to engage said parts with said shoulders and to provide said housing with longitudinal slots and having means to limit the downward movement thereof in said opening, a bolt having at its lower end laterally extending parts arranged to be moved through said slots and to be then moved into engagement with the lower portion of said housing to hold said bolt against upward movement, a clamping member mounted about said bolt and arranged to engage the device which is to be fastened to said structure, and means on said bolt to move said clamping member into engagement with said device.

6. In a fastening device of the character described, a tubular housing adapted to be inserted in an opening in a supporting structure through the upper end of said opening and having laterally extending parts to engage a downwardly facing shoulder at the lower end of said opening, said parts being movable inwardly to permit the insertion of said housing andthen outwardly into line'with saidshoulder, a bolt adapted to be inserted in said housing through the upper end thereof and having at its lower end parts mov-' able into engagement with said housing to limit the upward movement of said bolt with relation to said housing, a clamping member mounted about said bolt above said housing, having one end pivotally supported at a point spaced from said bolt and having its other end arranged to engage the device which is to be fastened to said structure, and means adjustably mounted on said bolt to move the last mentioned end of said clamping member into engagement with said device.

'7 In combination with a supporting structure having an opening, a fastening device comprising a tubular housing adapted to be inserted in said opening and having a part to engage said supporting structure near the lower end of said opening to limitthe upward movement of said housing, a bolt extending through said housing and having at its lower end a part to engage said housing and limit the upward movement of said bolt, a fulcrum member removably mounted on said supporting structure at one side of said opening, a clamping member mounted about said bolt for tilting movement with relation thereto and having one end pivotally supported on said fulcrum member and having its other end arranged to engage a device which is to be fastened to said supporting structure, and means on said bolt to tilt said clamping member and cause-the last mentioned part thereof to engage the device 'which is to be fastened.

8. In combination with a supporting structure having an opening, a fastening device comprising a tubular housing adapted to be inserted in said opening through the upper end thereof and having a part to engage said structure near the lower end of said opening to limit the upward movement of said housing and also having slots extending for the full length thereof, a bolt having at its lower end laterally extending parts arranged to be moved through said slots and to be then moved into engagement with the lower end of said housing to hold said bolt against upward movement, a fulcrum member removably mounted on said supporting structure at one side. of said opening and having a part extending into said opening to locate the same with relation to said bolt, a clamping member mounted about said belt for tilting movement with relation thereto,

having one end pivotally supported on said fulcrum member and having its other end arranged to engage a device which is to be fastened to said supporting structure, and means on said bolt to move said clamping member into clamping engagement with the device which is to be fastened.

9. In combination with a supporting structure having an opening, a fastening device including a tubular housing comprising two members adapted to be separately inserted in said opening through the upper end thereof and each having a part to engage a downwardly facing shoulder near the lower end of said opening, said members being spaced apart in said opening to provide said housing with longitudinal slots, a bolt extending through said housing, having at its lower end parts adapted to pass through said slots and to be moved into engagement with the lower portion of said housing to limit the upward movement of said bolt, a fulcrum member mounted on said supporting structure at one side of said opening, a clamping member mounted about said bolt for tilting movement with relation thereto, having one end pivotally supported on said fulcrum member and having its other end arranged to part having a spur to engage said shoulder and hold said housing against rotation, a bolt extending through said housing and having at its lower end a part to engage said housing and limit the upward movement of said bolt, said housing having means to engage said part of said bolt and limit the rotation of said bolt with relation thereto, a fulcrum member separate from said supporting structure and having means for detachably securing the same thereto at one side of said opening, a clamping member mounted about said bolt and having one end pivotally supported on said fulcrum member and having its other end arranged to engage the device which is to be fastened to said supporting structure, and a nut on said bolt to move said clamping member into clamping engagement with said device.

ALFRED W. SCHMID. 

